Can you plant potatoes in fall? Absolutely. But the reason for planting potatoes in autumn will differ greatly depending on where you live.
If you live where winters are mild, you probably want to plant potatoes in fall so that you can take advantage of the cooler season and harvest in winter.
If, on the other hand, you want to plant in fall and let your potatoes grow over winter in order to get a jump on the spring growing season, this article is for you.
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It never fails. Every year after I turn the cover crop, volunteer potato plants sprout in the beds where I planted potatoes last year. These plants seem to know exactly when to start growing based on the weather that season. They grow vigorously in the moist spring soil, getting the jump on weeds and many pests like cutworms. Certified seed potatoes are available online
Since these volunteers grow so well in the cool weather, the idea came to me, why not plant potatoes in the autumn instead of the spring. Not only do potatoes do better in cool, moist soil, I also would avoid having to plant one more vegetable during the mad rush of spring.
In fact, there are many reasons why you might want to plant in fall. These include:
Get a head start on the growing season. Potatoes that you plant in autumn will start growing their roots during the winter. Plus, they will start growing above ground as soon as the soil warms up. This lets your plants get going before insect pests arrive.
Weather in spring is unpredictable. Potatoes like cool weather and moist soil. Spring is the best time of year to get these conditions. Cool and moist is not good for the person planting, but good for potato growing.
Your plants will be able to take advantage of the conditions right from the start. More to the point, heavy rain or even snow may prevent you from planting. This is rarely a problem in fall.
Harvest sooner. Start sooner, harvest sooner. Plus, even potatoes with the longest growing time will mature before the winter because they have the entire spring, summer and fall to grow.
Two crops in one season? Depending on the potato variety you’re growing and the duration of your growing season, you could have time for two harvests.
No planting in bug season. Around here, the bug season is in spring. You’ll avoid planting when the bugs are thick and bothersome.
No chitting. You shouldn’t chit your autumn planting potatoes. Your potatoes will have plenty of time to grow without chitting.
Underground growth when it’s cold. Your potatoes will grow roots during the off season, so they will explode with growth above ground when the weather turns.
More compost available in fall. Typically, I have a lot more compost and other soil amendments in autumn. I bet you do, too.
As an avid gardener I always look forward to fall as an opportunity to plant potatoes for a bountiful harvest. Potatoes are incredibly versatile, nutritious and downright delicious so growing your own is very rewarding. The good news is that with the right approach, planting potatoes in the fall can lead to a prolific crop. In this article, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about fall potato planting.
Why Plant Potatoes in the Fall?
Potatoes are cool weather crops that originate from the Andes Mountains in South America. They thrive in cool soil and can withstand frost. This makes fall an ideal season for planting potatoes in most regions. Here are some of the main benefits of fall planting:
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Avoid pest and disease problems that are prevalent in warmer weather. Potatoes planted in fall establish themselves before these issues emerge in spring.
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Larger yields, Fall-planted potatoes bulking up through winter often produce higher yields come harvest time
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Natural season extension. Fall planting lets you enjoy homegrown potatoes weeks or even months before a spring crop would be ready
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Makes use of small, leftover potato tubers. Those little sprouting spuds from storage can be put to good use!
When to Plant Potatoes in Fall
Timing is important when it comes to fall potato planting. You’ll want to plant early enough so plants can become established before winter, but late enough that tubers don’t start sprouting until spring. Some tips:
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North: Plant 6-8 weeks before first expected fall frost.
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South: Plant 8-10 weeks before first expected fall frost.
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Zone 7 or warmer: Hold off until January/February.
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Zone 3-6: September-October is ideal.
Aim for soil temperatures between 45-60°F at planting time. Check your local frost dates and adjust timing accordingly.
Selecting Seed Potatoes for Fall Planting
You can use small potatoes from your summer harvest as seed potatoes. Choose tubers that are sprouting with small shoots. Cure them in a warm spot out of sunlight for 1-2 weeks so shoots grow stout and skins thicken.
If purchasing, look for late-season, long-storing potato varieties like:
- Russet Burbank
- German Butterball
- Red Pontiac
- Yukon Gold
- Kennebec
- Green Mountain
- Bintje
Buy certified seed potatoes from reputable suppliers and avoid using potatoes from the grocery store, which may carry disease.
How to Plant Potatoes in Fall
Step 1. Choose a planting site with full sun and loamy, well-draining soil enriched with compost or aged manure.
Step 2. Prepare seed potatoes by cutting larger tubers into smaller chunks of 2-3 ounces, making sure each piece has at least 2 eyes/sprouts. Small whole tubers can be left whole. Let cut pieces dry for 1-2 days.
Step 3. Dig straight trenches 6-10 inches deep and 12-36 inches apart. Space seed potato pieces 12 inches apart in the trenches with eyes/sprouts facing up.
Step 4. Cover pieces with 4 inches of soil. As sprouts emerge, gradually fill in trenches as plants grow until only the top few leaves are visible.
Step 5. Water deeply after planting and as needed to maintain evenly moist (but not soggy) soil.
Step 6. Mulch lightly with straw or leaves, taking care not to bury plants.
Step 7. Hill soil up around stems as they grow to encourage tuber development.
Step 8. Harvest potatoes as soon as tubers reach usable size by gently digging around stems with a fork. Or wait until plants die back and tubers finish bulking up before digging the entire crop.
Caring for Fall Planted Potatoes
Proper care is key to success with fall planted potatoes:
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Weeding: Stay on top of weeds, taking care not to damage shallow potato roots. Mulch helps smother weeds.
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Watering: Potatoes need consistent moisture. Water when top few inches of soil are dry.
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Frost protection: Cover plants if overnight frost is expected and plants are still small. Mature plants can tolerate light frost.
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Pests: Watch for Colorado potato beetles, aphids and flea beetles. Pick off by hand or use organic sprays as needed.
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Diseases: Prevent issues like blight by practicing crop rotation and sanitizing tools between plants. Remove diseased plants promptly.
With the right conditions and care, fall-planted potatoes will reward you with their hearty goodness come next season. Adjust timing and varieties as needed to match your climate. With practice, you can enjoy homegrown potatoes earlier and with greater bounty.
How to plant potatoes in the fall
Planting potatoes in the autumn is a lot like planting in the spring. Here’s how to do it:
Do everything you would normally do when you plant potatoes, except plant just before your first frost of the fall / winter. For me, this is typically the middle of September.
Do NOT cut up your potatoes to extend the number of plants. You should plant your potatoes whole. This helps prevent rotting of your seed potatoes over winter.
Also, you should plant below ground and NOT in bags or towers or even raised beds. Seed potatoes need the insulation from the cold that underground provides. In fact, you should plant eight to ten inches deep. This will help keep the potatoes warm. Furthermore, you should add mulch, leaves, grass clippings or other organic matter to the bottom of the trench. The organic matter will warm the dirt as it breaks down, giving your potatoes a head start.
One last thing: if you have some Coop Poop fertilizer, mix it in with the dirt. This is the best fertilizer I’ve found for potatoes.
If you have several potato patches, why not plant a small patch in the fall to see how it works for you.
Planting Potatoes in Fall // Any Climate!
FAQ
How late in the fall can you plant potatoes?
When to Plant Fall Potatoes. Late potatoes work well for winter storage. The best time to plant these varieties is about 110 days before the first expected freeze, which may be as early as July in some regions. Tuber formation will slow or stop when soil temperature reaches 80 degrees Fahrenheit (26.7 C.).
Can I leave potatoes in the ground over winter?
- Freezing: Potatoes are mostly water and will freeze solid in freezing soil.
- Rotting: If the frozen potatoes thaw, they will likely rot and become inedible.
- Storage: Potatoes generally store better in a cool, dark, and dry place, such as a basement or root cellar, rather than being left in the ground.
What’s the latest you can plant potatoes?
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Timing:Potatoes need about 3 months from planting to harvest. In Los Angeles, the average last frost is around the end of March. Therefore, planting in early to mid-April should allow for a good harvest before the summer heat becomes excessive.
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Location Considerations:The Old Farmer’s Almanac suggests that you can plant potatoes 2-4 weeks before the last frost date.
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Variety:Some potato varieties are better suited for earlier or later planting times. For example, “first early potatoes” can be planted in mid-to late March, while “maincrop” varieties are typically planted in mid to late April.
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Container Planting:Even if you have a late and wet spring, you can still plant potatoes later, even in June, especially in containers.
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Fall Planting:In Los Angeles, with its milder winters, you could also consider a fall planting of potatoes, potentially for a harvest in the late winter or early spring.
Can you plant potatoes in the fall?
When planting potatoes in the fall one of the first jobs you’ll need to do is get your seed potatoes. Now in the early spring, these can be easily found in garden centers but it’s not likely you’re going to find them for sale in the fall in the north. This means you will need to save your own seed from a previous harvest.
How to plant potatoes in autumn?
Plot for planting freshly picked tubers should be clean from weeds, loose and sufficiently moist. Autumn and preplanting soil treatment is the same as for conventional potato planting. As a precursor suitable black fallow or early harvested crops such as vegetable peas, pea-oat mixture for green fodder, winter rape.
When should you plant potatoes?
Know when to plant what potatoes. Plant main crop varieties in the middle of spring, around May or June, and harvest them around October. you can also grow potatoes indoors under light. 3. Select a large container. A potato plant needs roughly 2.5 gallons (10 liters) to develop. The larger your pot, the more potatoes you can grow.